Chrysanthemum Tea
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Country of Origin
China (Anhui / Zhejiang)
Description
A timeless, caffeine-free herbal infusion revered in traditional Chinese culture. Whole dried chrysanthemum blossoms gently steep in hot water to yield a golden, clear tea brimming with a delicate floral aroma, clean herbaceous notes, and a soothing, naturally sweet finish enhanced by rock sugar.
Presentation & How It's Eaten
Traditionally served hot in delicate porcelain teacups or clear glass teapots so diners can admire the dried blossoms blooming gracefully in the water. It can also be chilled and served over ice as a summer refresher.
Ingredients
1/2 cup food-grade dried chrysanthemum flowers (Hangbaiju or Gongju varieties)
4 cups water
30g (1 oz) yellow Chinese rock sugar (adjust to personal sweetness preference)
1 tbsp dried goji berries (optional, for visual contrast and subtle sweetness)
Step-by-Step Directions
Rinse the Blossoms: Place the dried chrysanthemum flowers and goji berries (if using) in a fine-mesh colander and rinse gently under cold tap water to remove any residual dust from processing.
Boil Water: Bring 4 cups of filtered water to a rolling boil in a clean glass teapot or non-reactive stainless steel saucepan.
Infuse Flowers: Turn off the heat. Add the rinsed chrysanthemum flowers and goji berries directly into the hot water.
Sweeten: Drop the yellow rock sugar into the pot while the water is hot, stirring gently until the crystals dissolve completely.
Steep: Cover the pot tightly with a lid and let the blossoms steep undisturbed for 5 to 7 minutes. The water will slowly transform into a beautiful, bright translucent pale yellow hue.
Pour and Serve: Strain the tea into warm cups, or leave a few floating blossoms in the vessel for a beautiful tabletop presentation.
Cooking Tips
Avoid Over-Boiling: Never boil the chrysanthemum blossoms directly on a high flame for an extended period. Boiling destroys the fragile aromatic oils in the petals, which can cause the tea to taste unpleasantly bitter or medicine-like rather than clean and floral.
Nutrition Facts
(Estimated per serving)
Calories: ~35 kcal
Total Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0g
Sodium: ~5mg
Total Carbohydrates: 9g
Dietary Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 8g
Protein: 0.2g
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